Cooking apparatus



June 6, 1944. I R. o. sTEvENsoN 2,350,941A

COOK ING APPARATUS Filed March 1i, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 1 R. O. STEVENSON COOKING APPARATUS Filed March 1l, 1942 June 6, l1944.

4.A Sheets-Sheet 2 45 26 7 34 34 a E o, a W gw@ 2 ,4 n, hay me s Z /k J/ n. 1/

June 6, 1944- R. o. s'rEvENsoN COOKING APPARATUS Filed March 1l', 1942- 4 Sheets-Sheet '3 iw fm June 6, 1944. R. o. s'rEvENsoN 2,350,941

COOKING APPARATUS Filed March 1l, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 6, 1944 cooxnvc APPARATUS Robert 0. Stevenson, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Proctor Schwartz, Ine., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application Match 11, 1942, S/erlal No. 434,279 11 claims. v(ci. zia- 43) This invention relates to thermostatically controlled cooking devices and more particularly to thermostatically controlledwater-heating devices.

It is frequently desirable in cooking operations to have available a supply of hot or boiling water. For example, in the making of tea, in the making of bouillon, in the making of coffee by the drip method, and in many other operations a supply of boiling water is required. Itis customary, when such water is required, for the housewife or cook to place a teakettle, or other vessel, on the stove and heat it. This entails delay and furthermore is frequently attended by wasted energy caused by excessive boiling of the water after it has reached the boiling point. Frequently when water is boiled by merely heating it upon a stove, the operator deenergizes the cooking unit manually in order to prevent excessive boiling. The water may not then be used immediately, and, by the time it is used, the temperature has dropped below the desired high temperature. While electric teakettles and the like may be used, such devices, unless equipped with an automatic control, are subject to the same objections, and furthermore such devices generally are not handy to use around a kitchen because of the necessity of an electric cord attached thereto.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a cooking device which will at all times maintain a supplyof boiling hot Water for cooking purposes, with a minimum waste of waterV and energy, and which utilizes the principles of control disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 383,636, filed March l5, 1941, now Patent Number 2,310,044, issued February 2, 1943.

A further object of the invention is to. provide an automatic control for a teakettie or similar device which will maintain water at a boil with` a minimum of heat loss and loss of water vapor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cordless electric teakettle or similar device. s

Still another object of the invention is to provide a control apparatus for teaketties and the like which will be safe and free from shock hazard for an operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide and as much surface working space is available as on a range not provided with this novel featllle.

Other objects and features oi' the invention will be apparent hereinafter. The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention, the cordless' electric teakettle being shown in cooperation with its control apparatus;

Fig. 2' is a sectional view through the teakettle, showing the various parts and manner of connection thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the control apparatus in its inoperative condition;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the control apparatus and a portion of the teakettle in operative association therewith;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the device;

Fig. 7A is a fragmentary sectional view taken so as to show the contact elements more clearly;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a range embodying the control apparatus for a different form of the device;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the control-appa- I ratus and teakettle in operative association;

Fig, 10 is a part plan and part sectional viev:r of the same, the section being taken at the level of the contact pins in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken along line II-II of Fig. 9.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accom- Y panying drawings, it will be seen that there is a control station for an automatic teakettle or provided a teakettle I, having a spout 2, a handle 3 and a removable cover 4. Within kettle l is located an electric heating element 5. Leads G of heating element 5 extend through hollow handle 3 to terminal contacts 'I on terminal support 8 located just above spout 2 and aligned with the spout opening.

The control apparatus which cooperates with kettle I has a casing 9. Attached to casing B is a stand I0 having feet l I. Teakettle I is free of attachment to the control apparatus but is adapted to be4 supported on stand l0, as shown in Fig. 1. Referring to Figs. 3 to 6 showing the details of the control apparatus, a bracket l2 is pivotally mounted on a transverse rod or shaft I3. Attached to bracket I2 by screws I 4 or the like are insulating supporting blocks I5 and an insulating plate I6. Blocks I5 carry resilient contact arms or blades Il having contacts I8 and I9 at their upper and lower ends. Contacts I8 are disposed in openings 20 in plate I6. (See Fig. 7A.) At the upper part of plate i6 is an extending hood 2| which is adapted to seat snugly within the upper part of casing l and to abut later. One end of a spring 24 is connected to a lug 25 carried by blocks l5. The other end A of spring 24 is connected tothe upper part of wall 22. 'I'he spring 24 thus tends to rotate plate I in the clockwise direction to its inoperative 'position as shown in Fig. 3.

A thermal responsive element 23 inthe form switch is minsten so that it wm open when-the thermostat Vreaches a temperature of 180 to 190- F. the water in the teakettle will be maintained or a spiral strip is disposed on the front face oi' f wall 22. The inner end of element 23 is secured to a rod 21 extending through a bearing structure 23 mounted on wall 22. The outer end of element 23 is secured to a stationary lug 23 carried by wall 22. The 'rotatable rod 21 extends through wall 22 and has a bent arm 33 arranged to engage an insulating roller 3i to thus actuate switch 32. The switch 32, carrying contacts 33 (see Fig. 5) comprises spring contact iingers 34 mounted on an adjustable bracket 35 pivotally secured to wall 22 by screw 33. Blades 34v are insulated from one another bysuitable insulating strips and washers.

Adjustment of switch 32 is accomplished bv screw 31 which is threaded into xed bracket 33 mounted on wall 22. Spring 33 maintains extension 4 3 of switch 32 in engagement with the head of screw 31. A hole 4I is provided in casing 3 to permit adjustment of screw 31.

A cord or cable 42 for carrying energizing current extends into casing 3 behind wall 22. Conductor 43 from cord 42 is connected to one of two terminals 44 mounted on wall 22. while conductor 45 is connected to a terminal 46 of switch 32. A conductor 41 extends from the other terminal 43 of switch '32 to the other of the tercounter-balance the loss.

is critically sensitive to a minimum of live steam 52 to receive the spout of the teakettle. Refermlnals 44. Terminals 44 connect to contacts I3 above the chamber inwhich the thermostatic element 23 is located, and openings 14 (see Fig. 6)

are provided in plate I3. The purpose of these openings will be explained presently. f

'I'he operation of the device is as follows:

When thetealrettlev I is not located on stand I3, the parts of the control apparatus assume their inoperative position as shown inA Fig. 3. It will be noted that contacts I3 are deenergized, so that there is no shock hazard to an operator. When teakettle I is placed on stand I0 in operative position, as shown in Fig. 1 the parts of the control apparatus assume their operative position shown in Fig. 4. Plate |16. is rotated counterclnclrwise by spout -2 against the force oi' spring ,24. Contacts I3 engage contacts 1 on the teakettle. Contacts I9 engage contacts 43 on wall 22.- It will thus be seen that a circuit is provided from cord 42 through switch 32- and blades I1 -tn the heating element 5 of the teakettle. So long as switch contacts 33 remain closed, heating element 5 is energized.

When plate I3 is in operative position. hole 23 is located beneath thermomotive element 23. Steam or water vapor coming from spout 2. passes' through hole 23 into tbe chamber in which the -thermostatic element 23is located. The steam or vapor accumulates in said chamber and actuates the thermostatic element. as disclosed in the aforementioned application. The switch'32 is so.l

adjusted that contacts 33 will be opened by bent arm 33 of shaft 21 when the thermomotive ele-v ment is heated substantially to a'predetermined temperature.

just at the boiling point, and excessive boiling, particularly when the teakettle is rst heated. is avoided. The openings v13 and 14 provide a small amount of ventilation in the thermostat chamber, and a current yof air indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4 continually sweeps out a certain portion o! the water vapors and tends to quickly cool the bimetal coil 23, unless a sufficient quantity oi' live steam is also coming into the chamber to Thus the thermostat coming intothechamber.

l A supply of water at the boiling point is thus constantly available in vessel I. As the escape of steam or vapor from vessel I occurs only through the hole 23, and as -the loss oi' water through vaporization occurs at a very slow rate, the kettle maybe left standingior a very long period of time without boilingdry. The thermostat provides for a minimum supply of energy to the heating elements and prevents useless fast boiling. s 4

In Figs. 8 to 11, there is shown another embodiment, of the device. which in this case is incorporated in an electric range. To the top surface 53 of the range (see Fig. 8) is aixed the usual back guard 5|. The control apparatus is embodied in the backward 5| which has a recess ring to Flgs. 9 to 11, there-is provided a teakettle 53 having a heating element 54 therein.

At the front of the handle 55, on either side or the spout 53, there are provided contact pins 51, connected by wires -53 to heating element 54. At the control station and on opposite sides or recess 52 are twov guards 53 of insulating material. Holes 33 in guards 53 are so positioned that the pins 51 may be inserted therein. Whenever pins 51 are inserted completely in holes 33, they .en- Gase contacts 3| on contact blades 32 which are resilientlv mounted onbracketspil made of insulating material. The blades 32 are connected by conductors 34 to the energy supply. the thermostatic switch 35 being serially connected in one of the energy supply leads as in the previous embodiment. As before, the switch is actuated by a thermostatic element 33 carried by insulating wall 31 and the switch elements are suitably insulated from one another. The spout 53 o! the teakettle 53 is adapted to llt into the recess 32, and the top of the spout engagesan overhanging portion 3310i' the backguard 5I. A tab turned upwardly from portion 33 provides an opening 33 through which steam is directed into the thermostat chamber toward the thermostatic element. An opening 13 is provided in the top of the backguard 5I and openings 15 are provided in partition 33 to effect a small amount o! ventilation for the Dufmse previously described.

At the bottom ofrecess 52 there is provided an asbestos pad 1I, placed so as to catch and reevaporate condensate which may form from steam It has been found vthat if the thermostaat,-

or vapor escaping from between the spout and partition 33 or from above partition 33 which does not form a water-tight joint with wall 31.

-The actual amount oi' water which escapes in this manner is small. In some instances it may not produce an objectionable amount of condensate, in whichcase the pad may be omitted, as in the embodiment oi' Figs. 1 to 6.

In the handle 55, there may be provided a pilot light 12, covered by a suitable translucent shield. The lamp may be connected in parallel with heating element Il across the terminals o! pins S1, or it may be connected in shunt with a seriesresistance. The light will thus operate whenever the heating element is energized, so that it serves to indicate that the apparatus is in proper worklng order. It also serves to indicate that the teaarately and could be variously attached to the backguard.

While two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it may take` other forms and may be used cooperatively with equipment other thanv an electric range. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited by the disclosure but only by the scope of the appended claims.

l. in combination, a cooking vessel having electric heating means thereon and an exit for heated vapors, a control apparatus free of attachment to said cooking vessel, said vessel and said control apparatus being adapted to be brought into cooperative physical relation with one another, means on said control apparatus for suppiying electrical energy to said heating means,

energy-supply means and arranged for activation by heated vaporsemitted from said exit while said vessel is in said cooperative relation with the control apparatus..

2. .in combination, a cooking vessel having electric heating means thereon and an exit for heated vapor, a control apparatus free of attachment to said cooking vessel, said vessel and said control apparatus being adapted to be brought into cooperative physical relation with one another, means on said control apparatus for supplying electrical energy to said heating means, cooperative means on said vessel and said control apparatus for electrically connecting said energyment to said cooking vessel, said vesseland saidv control apparatus being adapted to be brought into cooperative physical relation with one another, meanson said control apparatus for supplying electrical energy -to said heating means.

contacts on said vessel connected to said heating' means, contacts on said control apparatus arranged to be energized by said energy-supply means only when said vessel and said control apparatus are brought into said cooperative relation, and adapted to engage said mst-mentioned contacts at that time to electrically connect said energy-supply means to said heating means, and thermostatic means on said control apparatus for controlling said energy-supply means and arranged to receive the heated vapor from said exit when the cooking vessel is in said cooperative relation with the control apparatus, whereby said thermostatlc means responds to the temperature within said vessel.

4. In combination, a cooking vessel having' a spout and electric heating means thereon, a control apparatus free oi attachment to said oookingvessel and having a recess to receive said spout when said vessel is brought into juxtaposed relation'to the control apparatus, means on said controlapparatus for, supplying electrical energy to said heating means, contactsion said vessel and said control apparatus arranged for mutual engagement when said spout is inserted in said recess, thereby to connect said energy-supply means to said heating means, and thermostatic means on said control apparatus for controlling said energy-supply means and arranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from said spout while the latter is disposed in said recess.

5. In combination, a cooking vessel having a spout and electric heating means thereon, a oontrol apparatus free of attachment to said cooking vessel and having a recess to receive said spout when said vessel is brought into juxtaposedV relation to the control apparatus, means on said control apparatus for supplying electrical energy -spout and electric heating means thereon, a control apparatus free o! attachment to said cool:- ing vessel and havinga recess to receive said spout when said vessel is brought into juxtaposed relation to the control apparatus, means on seid control apparatus for supplying electrical energy to said heating means, contacts on said vessel connected to said heating means, a movable contact-carrying member on said control apparatus arranged to be actuated by said spout from an inoperative position to an operative position, and adapted when actuated to connect said energysupply means to said heating means, said memberl whenl in operative position being disposed over the end of said spout, said member having an opening therein to permit passage oi heated vapors from said vessel, and thennostatic means on said control apparatus for controlling said energy-supply means and arranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from said opening. v

7. 4Apparatus for energizing and controlling a cordless electric cooking vessel having electric heating means and contact terminals, comprising means for supplying electrical energy, contacts engageable by the contact terminals on said vessel when the latter is brought into cooperative physical relation with the apparatus. thereby to connect said energy-supply means to the heating means on the vessel. and thermostatic means on said control apparatus for controlling said energy-supply means and arranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from said vessel while it is in said cooperative relation with the apparatus.

8. Apparatus for energizing and controlling a cordless electric cooking vessel having a spout connect said energy-Supply means to the heating means on the vessel, a chamber on said control apparatus for receiving heated vapors emitted from said vessel while it is in said cooperative relation with the apparatus. thermostatic means in said chamber for controlling said energy-supply means, and means for producing a small air draft through said chamber, whereby said therand electric heating means with contact termil nais, comprising a receptacle to receive said spout, means i'or supplying electrical energy, contacts engageable by the contact terminals on said vessel when the spout o! the vessel is inserted in said receptacle, thereby to connect said energysupply means to the heating means on the vessel,

mostatic means is quickly cooled upon cessation of the emitted vapors.-

14. In combination, a cooking vessel having a spout and electric heating means thereon, a conand thermostatic means for controlling said en- A orgy-supply means and arranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from said spout while the latter is disposed in said receptacle.

i 9. In an electric range, an energizing and control station for a cooking vessel -having electric heating means and contact terminals, said station comprising means for supplying electrical energy, contacts engageable by the contact terminals on said vessel when the latter is disposed at said station,'thereby to connect said energysupply means'to the heating'means on the vessel.

and thermostatic means at saidf stationfior con.

trollingsaid energy-supply means and arranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from said vessel while it is disposed at said station.

l0. 'In an electric range.' an energizing and -control station for a cooking vessel having a Y spout and electric heating means with contact terminals; said station comprising a receptacle to receive said spout when the cooking vessel is disposed at said station, means for suppbing` electrical energy, contacts engageable by the contact terminals on said vessel when the latter is disposed at said station, thereby to connect said energy-Supply means to the heating means on the vessel, and thermostatic means for controlling said energy-supply means and arranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from said spout while the vessel is disposedat said station.

1l. In an electric liquid-heating apparatus, a vessel, a pouring spout on said vessel, means for heating said vessel, and means' responsive to heated vapors escaping from said spout for controlling said heating means.

trol apparatus free oi attachment to said cooking vessel, said vessel and-said control apparatus being adapted to be brought' into cooperative physical relation with one another, means on said control apparatus for supplying electrical energy to said heating means, cooperative'means on said vessel and said control apparatus for electrically connecting said energy-supply means to said heating means when said vessel and said apparatus are brought into saidcooperative relation,

Vand thermostatic means on said control apparatus for controlling said energy-supply means and arranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from said spout while said vessel isv in said cooperative relation with the control apparatus. c.

15. Apparatus for energizing and controlling a cordless electric cooking vessel having electric v heating means and contact terminals, comprising means for supplying electrical energy, contacts engageable by the contact terminals on said vessel whenvthe latter is brought into cooperative Physical relation with the apparatus. thereby to connect said energy-Supply means to the heating means on the vessel, thermostatic means on said control apparatus for controlling said energysupply means and arranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from saidvessel while it e is in said cooperative relation with the apparatus,

12. Apparatus for energizing and controlling a f cordless electric cooking vessel having electric heating means and contact terminals, comprising means for supplying electrical energy. contacts engageable by the contact terminals on said vessel when the latter is brought into cooperative physical relation with the apparatus, thereby to connect said energy-Supply means to the heating means on the vessel, a chamber on said control apparatus i'or receiving heated vapors emitted from said vessel while it is in said cooperative relation withthe apparatuaand thermostatic means in said chamber for controlling said energy-supply means.

13. lApparatus for energizing and controlling a cordless electric cooking vessel having electric heating means and contact terminals, comprising means for supplying electrical energy, contacts engageable by the contact terminals on said vesselvwhen the latter is brought into cooperative c physical relation with the apparatus, thereby to y supply means to the heating means on the vessel,

thermostatic means at said station for controlling said energy-supply means and arranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from said vessel while it is disposed at said staidon, and means for collecting and re-evaporatin'g condensate of said vapors.

17. In an electric range having a backguard at least part or -which is hollow, anenergizing and control station ior a cooking vessel' having electric heating means and contact terminals, said station comprising contacts within said backward engageable by the contact terminals on said vesselwhenthe latter is disposed at said station, means for supplyins electrical energy to the contacts within said "backward, and a thermostatic switch disposed within said backguard andarranged for activation by heated vapors emitted from said .vessel while it is disposed at said station, Vsaid switch being included in the lenergizing circuit .for said vessel to controlthe same.

' .ROBBTQSTEVENSONU 

